Top-flap-sealing machine for sealed cartons.



F. B. MAE TOP FLA? SEALiNG MACHHJE ,503 SELD ARTGNS.

APPLlCTiON FILED ULYZIZ4 Ql Patented Apr. 6, x

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rr. S. MARUN TOF FLAPSEAUNG fACHlNE FOR SEALD CARTONE. ,APPUCAUQH man JULYQZ, 1.909.

l y l 31%,@7@ Paented Am. 8, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET ZA F, B. MARTIN. TOP FLAP SEALING MACHINE FPR SEALED CARTONS.

APPLICATION FILED IULYZZ, 1909.

s. m I@ Am I ...um .@w QR 1%@ ,m www k www@ m P N u Q F. B. MARUN. TOP FLA? SEALING MACHINE FOR SEALED CARTONS.

APPUCATION mio 1ULY22, 191391 Patented Apr. 6, 91b.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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A the Car FRANK B. MARTIN, GF BATTLE CREEK, IvC'I-IIGAIT, ASSIGNR T0 PQSTUM CTIE-EAL GC.

LIMTED, F BATTLE v TOP-FLAPSEALNG M A-CHNE FR- SEYLED CAR'CCTS.

zxps of lled cartons.

One abject of the invention is io prfvudc n muclne 0f this el; fz'flster in which the, operation Gf folding and :mpllsv'hg tlm? 9'! uml sealing the Hays 0f C News Specication of Leiters Patent.

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tance .from the b.: Q, as shown. @nl the' lowev guide busfi :me 'araugefl follower supporting tracks, l, and cmtuh su; porting plzglres To the inner scle of tllefuppef gwdg bars are secured We: plates 6.

On the forward end of the .mam frame of the mffihine is mrangecl an exterqon 7, Qomprxsng smnclnrclis 8, and 'upper -a'xcl m3 ln fue m'xl prtifon of l? are., arranged a-:ljusng ge-il with the beauas sp1-Q' 01T chain 26 to a spr@ on i'lu mljaclpn 'enll' tlm simi/"L l ille Carrying cl .u 13, Whezebj' motion m obtained to Carire )le WG bls'u 'ion :Juul at L fvfs 9l of the arrangedfpairs of feeding-rollers 30, said rollers "being" disposed at the rinner ends of the belts 20 and. are fixedly mounted on op-v erating shafts 31 V-journaled inthe upper 5 cross lbars 9 of the extension 7, as shown'.v

On one end .of the shafts 31 are arranged.

and adjacentetothe inner feed roller at each side of the machine. The stop plates 39 vare secured to 'the outer ends ofsupport'- ing bars 40, the inner ends'of which are provided with slots .41 in which are arranged bolts i2 wherebv said barsare ad- 'justably secured `to the standards 1 to hold the stop plates at the desired position. In connection with the carton feeding mechalA nism, lI 'providemeans for' periodicallymoving one carton at a time 'from first one pair offeeding. .rgllersd andthen the other 'i .pair onto theplates 5 of the guide bars 2v and in position to be engaged by the next guide'clips 416 sec'ured'to supporting brack# `'etsz47 arranged on the opposite sides of the extension 7 are loosely engaged by the forward ends ol' on the upper ends of vertically' disposed crank shafts 49-which are journaled in bearing brackets 50 secured to the upper and lower guide bars 9 o f the extension 7. On the shafts 49 are valso secured crank arms 51 to which are connected the forward ends of .I operating bars 52 on the inner ends of which are arranged oppositely projecting pins 53 which are alternately engaged by cams 54 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the main frame of the machine. On the shaft 55 is fixedly mounted a. sprocket gear H55- placed thereon are fed forwardly onto the ards 1 of the main frame, ,are carton stop-l =brought oppositetheinner vping plates 39 one of whieh'isarranged over approaching` follower- 113A as the latter Ais asshownf-*Th'e v'push bars 415 operating arms or levers 48 vxedl'y mounted mounted on the opposite ends of Aa shaft 55' vfeed rollers 30 and by -roilers carredpn against thestop plates 39 by lwhich,

they are held .until the shifting plates move .thes'ame laterally/' onto the supporting plates 5; and-in the path ofmovement of ther 70 followers. I' VThe 'space over these rollers 30 between thestop plates 39 and the adjacent ,ends of 'the .belts'20 vis only Isuiiicient to re ceive, one carton l'atatime and `when. this "carton is' pushedfoverontothe plates 5.115775 the shifting plateslt, the nextfcartn `0n the belt 20 is held back or prevented from'.

'passing onto the rollers- 30hy means o fs'top flanges 59 formed ou the forward edges of' the plates L14' and projecting outwa'rdlyfatgso rig-ht angles thereto so. 'that when the plates 44 are# moved Aiinw`a" rdly :said fflangesV arefs;

S15/'of ythe belts 20 and thus :stop Or -hold from passing onto the roll ing plates 4 have again'retraoted ormovd outwardly over the feed rollers. The erating devices' for the?v cartoni-shift@ moving plates are so arranged that plates on opposite side of; the machine areeo moved alternately to 'push'.1thejcartonsof: 'Y

s from the -rollersSQontofthe plates Vl5 and'- are'so timed Athat a `cartonivvill be moved from 'one side or 'the otherfof the machine inl front 'ofthe Anext approaching follower,-, 9 5 thus the 'cartons fed from .one ysideofthe machine wl not interfere 'with the ar ns fed from the other side. Q *f* 1 Revolubly mountedfinffsuitabl brackets ,6 0 and 61 securedtothe-:- pp .100 portion of the forward'uprigh'ts or-Q s'tandi vards l and to the upper guidebars 3 are vertically disposed'shafts 62 on the lower ends ofwhich are secured corrugated.: rubbervcartonpressing and straighteningrolls 63 between which the vcartons.passassoon; as they yare moved bythe-followers 43. l,and before they are brought,intofengageinent with the folding devices; The rolls 63."en\1 gage the upper portion .of .the sides of the 10 carton and press the sides togetherA so that@ shouldthe same have become bulged out-jl wardly by the weight of the materialplaced therein, they will vagain be brought into; shape before passing between the Yguide bars 3 of the frame.' On the. upper ends of the' shafts762 ofthe rolls 63 are xedly mounted beveled gear pinions 64 which are engaged with similar pinions 65 on a horizontallydisposed operating'shaft 66, .120 the ends of which arerevolubly'rnounted in the bearing bracketsGO; 'Qn-oneend ofthe shaft 66 is Xedlymounteda sprocket v'gear 67 which is connectedbyfasprockethain 68 with' a sprocket'jgearj .69 ononeendfof 1,25 afolder operatingshaftl'O which isrev lubly mounted in the upper ends of the"` ward standards f. 1 of thet hine frame. On the opposite end of thejsfha ft 701s fixedly mounted` a sprocket gear 71which is con 130 Meerrenetzteil 'by a spreoke Vohein 72e() an ile sprocket gear 73 revolubly mounted on lrue stub shaft ffl arranged on one side of he freine, as shown. The up ver straten of the chain 72 is engage with sprocket-geur Z mouned on the acljuoene end oielre counter shaft whereby when seid shalt is driven it in turn rivestire shaft 'ifrom'wliiolr motion is impereil to the driving mechenism of` the pressing rolls G3. The lower stretch of the eliein T2 is engaged by an idle sprocket gear 76 mounefl on the simio of tile ntieohine, es shown.

Alter he carton lies passed between tlie vpressing rolls 63, *the upper onore-.of die is secured to ille upper sile ofy lreyupper guide 'oars 2S? while ille forward `endl-pro- 'jcots upwarilly e suitable disenee above Saud. bers to engagefrne end flap o1- he Carien I.

and fold' the suine clown, es liereinloefore :lefscribef.

,Immediately aftertlie rs end nep nesbeen folded (lou/n by rire folding denise ,T7

, "7 the second end liep .iefengeged its fielding device und olecl clown 'thereby onto lle first end liep, after which lle carton is moved on between the guirlebz'zrs l by the carrying mechanism.' The second end folder comprises e seginenrol-.lmr V78, one en of which is bent inwardly upon itself and thence downwardly urriglir angles to form un attaching lng 79 by means of Wl ich said bur is secured to an operating erm SQ which is rigidly connected to lle elifrfiunil is revolved thereby lo bring lie folding ber 7S around infro engagement Willi. lire eeeonfl end flap whereby tire saine-is rolrlei'l flown onto the irs: end liep, described. The free end of the folding ber ie preferably turno( inwardly, as siioun nl 17 io facilitare lie engegenien ol' tire ber with the flop of the carton,

After the eufl fle-ps of tlecerton here illus been' folrleil own into elosecl positioin die carton is: moved. along over t? supporting plaies zinfl between lille upon guide bers 3. Ae the ourton'is urouglo lie eullr elle folilin device i?? f esi-fie li L olf lire turion are opened out i u :unl into engagement with upper sides oli ille guide ners in Whirl-L posirion the carton is lorimglr 'oenootli fue glue applying rollers 82 'by ineens oif which die properQrurniiry ol glueis eppl.. to iliesirle linps. The glueepplying rollers 82 ure mounted on :uroperoing simil 132i Yqliirlr is journeil in si "mole hearings on lle ironie which is g. "ot-olly morini-eri, a lucent io iis {fon-marl.enri7 on ille upper enil of a standard 85 secured to the main freine of elle machine. 'llie frame SLL is udjustebly secured in any suitable manner to the stand: urfls Wlrioh are also secured to the mein freine of *rire maeliine. By ineens of the adjustable Connection between the forward end the freine Se and the standards 86, the pressure of the glue rollers on the side the cartons is regulated. ln the freine is revolubly mounted glue cerryngr rollers il? which revolve 'in glue tanks enel also engage the glue applying rollers' whereby the glue in the tanks is carried .o the glue applying rollers S2- and by thesev Oilers applied to the flaps of the Corton.v J,rreng-:d in the forward end of the frame Se nre Scrapers 89 which are engaged with il jneriplleries of the rollers Si and are edeprecl to remove the superfluous glue.

therefrom so that only tlieproper quantity of glue isl carried-by the rollers 87 and fleposled on the applying rollers 82. The, Scrapers 8l? ere vpreferably adjustebly securerl in lle frame 84 oy means of suitable ecljueiing screws 90 whereby they may be more or less closely engaged with the perplieries of #fue rollers 87 to regulate the queniy of' glue carried around by seid rollers.

one enfl of alle shaft 91 of the rollers Y 87 is mounted e spur Wheel 92 which is 0peretively engaged with a gear Wheel 93 on rhe shaft 83 o1' the glue applying rollers whereby motion of the shaft 91 is applierl lo ille shaft 83 to operate the saine and seid glue epplying rollers. On the opposite end of the 91 of the rollers 87 is ixedly niouned e sprocket gear 94 which is conneeerl oy esprocket chain 95 to asprocket gear 96 on the elm-ft 35 whereby motion is iniporefl to the simil; 9i. On the shuft 83 of alle glue applying rollers 82 is mounted e @op pressing roll 97 which engages the f if @il enfl iieps of lie carton und presses lle seine clown onto 'elle material in the ciu'.- iion end prei-ents any or' the glue from the rollers from coming into engagement willi the contents of the carton.y After the glue lies enus been applied. to the side flops :incl lie cartons moved on from beneath the rollers S2, the-liep on one side of the'ourton brought ino engagement Wish en elevating' device 98 1oy ineens of which said side flop is raised and partially folded down owurcl ille folded end flops. The flop elevating ondlolding device 98 is preferably in the form ol a curved diagonally arranged pleeor bar which is secured at one `end. to ille iop of one of the guide bers 3, as shown. fierlie side liep has been ilius acted uponz lsy ille device 9, the carton is moved on until the partially folded yfie-p is brought into engagement with the First side folding-and @lering e n s pirzilv lAfter the first side flap has been folded by an arm 100 to an operating shaft 101 mounted in suitable bearings on the upper guide bars 3,`as shown. The spiral bar 929 .preferably increases in widthfrom its free end toward the center, at which point, the bar attains its greatest Width.

"atelyfm rear ofthe first side v foldingfdevice l99. JThe flap elevating device 102 raises and partially folds the second side flap after which the carton is moved on to bring said partially folded flap into 'engagement with the second side flap closing and folding. den vice 103 which is ixedly mounted on an operating shaft 1041iA journaled in suitable bearlugs on thevguidebars 3 of the frame. The

i closing and foldiig device103 engages the second side iiap and' forces lthe glued side of the s'anie down into engagement -Wlth the first folded side flap, thuscoinpletely closing the carton. The second side Hap folding de`. vice 103 is constructed and arranged in the saine manner as the first side apfolding device 99 l y.

0n one end of the shaft 101 of the-.first side flap folding derfice 991s iixedly mount- "ed a sprocket gear 105 `vliich is connected by a sprocket chain 106 to a sprocketgear 107 onrthe adjacent end 'of 'the shaft- 104 of thesecond side flap folding device 103.- 0n

Umounted a sprocket gear '108 which is connected by a sprocket'chain'lOQ --with .a ,sprocket gear 1-10'on the shaft 70 of the vsecond end flap folding device whereby the motion of said shaft is imparted to the shaft 104C and from said shaft to the shaft 101 whereby' the first andsecond side Hap closing and folding devices are operated.

' Arrangedonthe upper guide bars 3 of the 'fra'rne are corner shaping rollers 111 whicliare adapted toeng'age'the upper side,v

corners of thecartonl after the side `ilz'ips;

"have been folded over, thus pressing and' forming said corners. The rollers 111 areY 'piaztally mounted in the upper ends of bear-- ing bars 112 which are adj ustably secured to the guide bars 3 by a bolt and slot connection, as Shown,

After the cartons have passed beneath the second side 'flap closing and folding device i i 103, they are'gbrough't beneath the series of 5' *seiiling-jl 'rollers-'f Y which are revolubly mounted in bearingfbiars 114 arrangedonthe upper sideof the guide bars?) whereby the folded and closed yside flapsl are pressed down against each other and against the folded end flaps, thus causing the 'gl11ed surfaces of said side iaps to firmlyiadhere to the parts With which they are engaged, thus..

securely sealing the cartons.

After the cartons. have passed beneath thev sealing rollers 113, they are brought intothe s, path of movement of a suitable dischargingn f mechanism Which is here shown and is prefs which is flxedly secured cartons are brought beneath the discharging erably in the form of a paddle -Wheel 11.5,: to a shaft mounted in suitablebearin'gson thesupper' ends of the standards of the frame. -As the catching. mechanism,-Which is here shown 117 comprising a, central Liconical .shaped body-portion 118 at the 'lower end kofwhich is-,formed :an annular radially.v projecting plate 119 en which the cartons fall,top end down, and areoarried around. The'caitons may be removed from'the vturn-table as they 'a're brought around,by'hand-or any suitable mechanism, (notshown). The turni v.table 117 is xedlyimounted on the upper end of/a vertically/disposed operating shaft l 120 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine. The shaft-116 of the discharge device is-provided on .its louter end vwith a bevel gear pinion 121 which engages asimilar pinion 122 on `a `Ashaft 123 mountedA in suitable bearings on theframe of the machine. VOn one end Vof .the shaft123 is fiXedly mounted a. sprocketA the opposite .end of the shaft 104:- is xedlyy gear 124 which is connected by av sprocket chain 125 with a sprocket gear 126 on the main drive shaft 10 whereby motion is imparted to drive the shaft 116 in the proper direction and at the proper speed. One stretch of the chain 125 is engaged With an idle gear 127 mounted yin suitable bearings on the frame, as shown. On the shaft 120 of the turn-table, adjacent to its lower end is fixedly mounted a drive pulley 128 which is connected by a belt 129 with a drive pulley 130 on the shaft 10 whereby` motion is im- 'V' parted to the shaft 120 to operate the turntable 117. The belt v129 passes around idle guide pulleys 131 before ngaging the pul- .ley 128, as shown. v

rlhe followers 43 by means of which the 'out on the opposite vedges5 as shown at 132, to provide recesses which engage the tracks- 4 on the inner side of the lower guide. bars2, bet-Ween Which the lower ends of the follocrs pass.' On the notched ends of the 80 andis preferably inztheform Qf a turntable i' nies-ite followers are secured chain attaching and track vengaging plates 133 to which the chains '13 are securedr in any suitable manner. The ends of the plates 133 enga ge benea-th the tracks l and hold the followers in place when the latter are passing from the fronttto the rear end of the machine to move Tthe lcartons to toe latter. the return `movement of the followers, the ends of the plates 133 engage and slide over the angle Q iron tracks or bars 19 arranged below the lower guide bars :2, as shown. By thus constructing and attaching the followers7 they l ai'ehe'ld in position and readily moved from oneend of the machine to the other to carry Athe cartons along over 'the supporting bars 5.'

From the.. foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood With- 'out requiring a more extended explanation. Various changes in the forni, proportion and the minofdetails of construction may be lrwarted to lWithout departing from the principle or sacriicing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what claim is: l. ln a machine of the character described,

a supporting frame, a carton carrying mech.-

anisni arranged in said frame, said mechanism comprising guiding and supporting "bars, carton supporting plates, a carrying chain, supporting chairna Aseries followers secured to said tracks adapted to be en- Yvers and to support and .rative positiorn a feeded oneach side of the machine, means Wee oy' the cartons are alternately pushed said feeding mechanism into position. be engaged by the followers on said ehaiina series of folding devices adapted lto fold the iop flaps of the cartons into 1closed position, and means ,whereby glue vis applied to the dans as the same areA iolded.

i2. in a device of the character described,

gaged by said fol hold said chain in i ing 'mechamsm ai supporting frame, a carton carrying mecha-` nsrn arranged in said frame, a feeding mechanism arranged at each side of the machine whereby the cartons are fed one at a time into the path of movement of 'f' ryingrnechanisn, a series of top flap .folding devices, glue applying devices adapted `4 `to apply glue to the top side flaps of the cartons, a liep sealing device adapted to y press the folded and gleed flaps into sealing engagement with eachother, a discharging mechanism whereby the sealed cartons are pushed olf from the machine, and a turn table adapted to receive the sealed cartons l`when discharged from the machine. i

3. n machine of the character described,

a su ortin frame. a carton cari inv mechat a time into the'path of movement of said carrying mechanism, a pair of yrevolubly mounted carton shaping rolls, adapted to straighten up and shape the cartons, a. first end flap folding device comprising an inclined bar adapted to engage and fold down the first end flap of the carton, a second end flap folding device comprising a revolubly mounted segmental flap engaging bar, adapted to be brought into engagement i ith tlieseeond end flap and to hold the latter over int-o closed position onto the first folded end Hap, glue applying rollers adapted to apply the proper'quantity of glue to the side flaps of the cartons, side ap elevating devices adapted to engage and partially close the side flaps of the cart-on, side flap closing and folding devices adapted to successively engage first one side flap and then the other and to fold the same down into closed position, a series of sealing rollers adapted to press the glued and folded flaps into firm engagement with each other, a discharging mechanism adapted to push the sealed cartons from the machine, and a turn table to receive the cartons when thus pushed from 'Wardly and outwardly over said feeding rolls whereby first one and then another carton is pushed from the opposite pairs of feeding rolls into the path of movement of the carrying mechanism, means to alternately operate said pushing mechanism, a series of top flap folding devices7 and a series of glue applying devices adapted to fold und apply glue to the top flaps of the cartons While being moved along by said carry! mechanism.

5. ln tcp flap sealingmachine for filled cartons, a series of top lisp folding devices, adjustabiy mounted glue applying rollers, acarton feeding mechanism, said mecha- .rsro compr sing a pair of endless belts, "ate said belts, pairs of feeding e the cartons from said belts, on pushing 'devices7 said devices comprising push `plates arranged over said feeding rolls, operating bars connected to said plates, operating shafts,plate reciprocating levers mounted on said shafts and loosely engaged with said operating bars, a shaft operating bar, cams operatively engaged with said bar, and means to actuate said camsv whereby a reciprocating movement is alternately applied to said push plates and thereby to push the cartons from first y:one side 'and therr'theotherof the machine pinto the path of'movement of said carrying mechanism. v

In a machine of the character described, a main supporting frame, a carton carrying mechanism, arranged therein, a Afeeding mechanism to feed thecartons one at a time. to said Carrying mechanism, a first end flap folding and side flap opening device, asecond end flap folding' device, an adjustable glue applying mechanism ito'ap- -ply glue to said side flaps, side flap elevating' devices adapted to raise and partially fold said side flaps, side flap closing and folding devices ladapted to completely fold and close said side flaps, said devices comprisingrotary, spiral bars,V 'corner forming devices adapted to crease and form the upper side corners. of the carton, a series of sealing rolls, a carton discharging mech# anism,'said mechanism comprising a revo! lubly mounted paddle wheel, and 'a revolubly mounted turn-table adapted toreceive the sealed cartons when pushed over' ofi' from the machine by' said paddlewheel.

7. In machine oftheA class described,

nism comprising guide and supporting bars,

carton supporting plates, a'carrymg chain, a series of followers securedto said chain,

said followers and to vsupport and hold said chain in operative position, a feeding mechanism arranged at each side of the machine, means whereby the cartons are alternately pushed from said feeding mechanism into position to be engaged by the followers and vFolding and glue-applying means for the top flaps of the cartons.

8. In a machine .of the character de-A scribed, a supporting frame, a carton carrying mechanism arranged in said frame, a feeding mechanism adapted to feed the cartons oneat atime into the path of move` ment of said carrying mechanism, a pair of adapted to straighten eut and shape thecartons, a first end flap folding device comrising an inclined bar adapted to engage and fold` down the first end flap of the carton, a second end flap-'folding device comprising a revolubly mounted segmental iap engaging'bar, adapted to be brought into' engagement with the', second end flap and to hold the latter vover into inclosed position onto the first folded end flap, glue apthe proper plying rollers adapted to apply quantity of glue to the side flaps ofthe cartons, side flap elevating devices adapted to ences-c and partially close the side {laps} ofgthe carton, side flap closing and folding a supporting frame, a carton-carrying mech-A4 anism arranged' m saidframe, said mechasupporting tracks adaptedto be engaged by revolubly 'mounted' carton shaping rolls,- 'said feeding rolls.

l means of vactuating said ',carrying mechanism,

devices adapted to successively engagel'rs't' one side iap and then the otherV and 'to fold the same down into closed position, a series of sealing rollers adapted to' press the glued, ;}v and folded-flaps into f irm engagement/ With each other, and a discharging and receiving means for said cartons. A

9. In a machine of the character -dei Iscribed,'asupporting frame, a carton carry- A, ing mechanism operatively arranged in said frme, a feeding mechanism comprising endless feed belts and pairs' of feeding. adapted Vto receive the cartons from 'l said belts, stop'devices arranged over said' feed ing rolls to receive and'hold the cartons forwardly vby said rolls, a carton pushm "z mechanism lcomprising push bars adap p to be moved inwardly and outvv'ardly.v` over said feeding rolls whereby first one and then 'another carton is pushed from the opposite pairs of'fee'ding rolls int'o the .path of move-- Y ment of the carrying mechanism, ineansyto '.devices, glue applying means, a feeding- 1ol mechanism, arcarton carrying mechanism and carton pushing devices for pushing lthe j cartons on the carrying" mechanismy 'said pushing devices comprising pushing platesf arranged for endwise movement inadvance of the feeding mechanism and means for alternately actuating said pushing plates.

l1. In a top flap sealing machine for filled cartons, a series of top ap feeding devices, glue applying rollers, a carton .feeding mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pair of endless belts, means to' operate said belts, pairs of feeding rollsto receive thel cartons from said belts, carton pushing devices comprising push plates, arrangedover operating bars for said push plates, vertical crank shafts, reciprocating levers-carried by said shafts andengaging the operating bars of ,the Vpush plates, cpank shaft operating bars and shaftoperating bars whereby a reciprocating movement is alternately appliedto said push. plates to pushthe cartons from rst one side and-then the other side of the machine into the path `of movement of the carrying mechanism. l2. In -a machine of the character der' scribed, a'mainsupporting frame, a carton arranged therein," a feed the cartons one feeding mechanism yto at a time tol said carrying mechanism, a ,1

end iiap folding and side nap opening device, a second end flap folding device, an adjustable glue applying mechanism to apply glue to said side flaps, side flap elevating devices adapted to raise and partially fold said side flaps, side flap folding and closing devices adapted to completely fold and close said side flaps, corner forming devices adapted to crease and form the uppercorners of the cartons, sealing. rolls and a carton discharging mechanism.

13. In a machine of the character described, a main supporting frame, a carton carrying mechanismarranged therein, a feeding mechanism to feed the cartons one at a time to said carrying mechanism, a first end flap folding and side flap opening device, a second end flap folding device, an adjustable glue applying mechanism to apply glue to said flap. side flap elevating devices adapted to raise and partially fold said side flaps, side flap closing and folding devices adapted to completely fold and close said side flaps, said devices comprising rotary spiral bars, sealing rolls, and a carton discharging mechanism.' Y

14. In a top flap sealing machine for filled cartons, a series of flap folding devices, glue applying rolls, a carton feeding mechanism comprising a pair of endless belts at oppof site .sides of the machine, means to drive said feeding rolls to receive the cartons from said belts, carton pushing devices at opposite sides of the machine to push the cartons out one at a time from the feeding rolls to the carrying mechanism, and means to actuate said pushing devices. y

,15. In a top Hap sealing .machine for filled cartons, a series of Hap folding devices, glue applying rolls, a carton feeding mechanism comprising a pair of endless belts at opposite sides of the machine, means to drive said belts, a carton carrying mechanism, pairs of feeding rolls to receive the cartons from said belts, carton pushing devices at opposite sides of the machine to push the cartons out one .at a time from the witnesses.

FRANK B..liARTIN.V v Witnessesz JOHN C.' DAv1s,'-\

Cms. R. Yonne, 

